Page 55 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed

Chapter Ten

Alistair took the stairs up to the second floor two at a time. He’d done his best to stay away from his wife. To assure himself he was not a slave to his desires. He was not. But after his overwhelming terror at finding her comatose in her bath, if he wanted to get any work done, he was going to assure himself she was well at regular intervals during the day.

And likely through the night, too.

Odd behaviour indeed.

Outside the door, he schooled his face into polite friendliness.

Julia gasped at his entrance, her gaze flying from the teapot she had been staring at, to rest on his face. A hand flattened on her throat. ‘Alistair. You startled me.’

She looked afraid. ‘You invited me for tea.’

She visibly pulled herself together. ‘You declined the invitation.’

The way she stood up to him was something he liked about her, but seeing evidence of the courage it took to overcome her fear of him was a bitter pill.

‘I changed my mind. Will you pour me a cup?’

She stared at him, her hand hovering near the pot, but not touching it.

He frowned and reached to take it for himself, noticing that she had not yet poured for herself.

‘You cannot,’ she said breathlessly, pressing her palm to the lid.

He froze. ‘What? Am I not permitted to change my mind?’ He kept his voice even, an indifferent drawl, but her refusal pained him more than he would have expected.

‘No. I mean yes. It is not that.’ She sounded flustered. Looked flustered. Anxious.

‘What is wrong?’

She stared at him as if he had spoken in a foreign language.

How exceedingly strange. Once more he reached for the teapot.

She sat bolt upright. ‘Stop. I didn’t think you were coming. It is full of the stuff you like, but I cannot abide. I am sorry. I tipped my cup, milk and all, into the pot.’

He frowned. ‘You were supposed to let the kitchen know this.’

Her eyes filled with worry, she twisted her hands in her lap. She sagged back against the couch. ‘I—I forgot.’ Miserably, she gazed at him.

Did she fear he would be angry she had spoiled the tea? Would her last husband have been angry at such a small thing? Punished her for such a transgression?

Did she expect him to be similarly inclined? Guilt racked him. His distance had been designed to protect her, but he wanted to offer comfort. At least she should understand that she was safe from him in that way.

‘Get your coat and hat,’ he said, inwardly shaking his head at yet another strangely spur of the moment idea.

She stared at him and then out of the window at the rain. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To find you a cup of tea you can drink. Meet me in five minutes at the bottom of the stairs.’

* * *

It only took Julia a moment to pull on her cloak. Why she had chosen one of the few things remaining from her old wardrobe she wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps because it was familiar and comfortable when everything else about today seemed confusing. Worrisome in the extreme.

Or...it was because it was raining. Nothing else she owned was suitable for wearing in a downpour.

Already waiting for her when she reached the hall, Alistair tucked her hand beneath his arm. ‘This way.’